J. Harris Proctor, born in 1924 to Jesse and Rosa Proctor in Durham, NC, passed away peacefully on August 7th, 2015, while surrounded by his family under the compassionate care of the staff at Highland Farms Retirement Community in Black Mountain, NC, and Care Partners Hospice and Palliative Care.
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Jane, and by three sons, Edward of Durham, NC, Thom and his wife Pam of Berlin, Germany, and Ken and his wife Sandy of Bangor, Maine, as well as his brother, S. Fletcher Proctor and his wife Rich of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
After earning his PhD in Political Science from Harvard University, Harris embarked on a distinguished academic career spanning more than 60 years teaching at MIT, American University in Cairo, Duke University, University of Nairobi, University of Dar es Salaam, and the University of Delhi before finishing his teaching career with 21 years at his beloved Davidson College.
He traveled extensively, publishing his research on government and politics in the West Indies, Egypt, Uganda, Kenya, The Gambia, Senegal, Botswana, Lesotho, Tanzania, Swaziland, Malawi, the United Kingdom, Malta and India.
Harris and Jane have lived at Highland Farms since 2001 where they enjoyed the community spirit in the beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains. They loved to walk the trails of the Black Mountain area and watch the bird life on “their”pond. He was a good friend, father, husband, and brother.
A memorial service for Harris will be held at Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church in Swannanoa, NC, where he and Jane are members, at 2pm on Friday, August 14th.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the J. Harris Proctor Political Science Award Fund at Davidson College, PO Box 7174, Davidson, NC 28035-7174.